Let me introduce you to Bonz (bonez). Hyper Hound #1 and the English Pointer companion of the household. Although he looks and sounds very intimidating at the door, he is quite friendly. So don't worry, you can come on in. ;)
He was adopted from a local Humane Society in 2004. He was six months and found running the streets so we know very little about his heritage. At the time of adoption, we had some real plans to move to the wide open spaces of Montana and thought a big outside dog was just what we needed. Well...plans change! We still in live in town and Bonz does just fine now.
Pointers are a breed that need lots of exercise. They are built to run, hunt and work. And Bonz is no exception. When he was a puppy, my husband and I both worked about eight hours days. That left Bonz home with too much time on his paws. After he ripped up a chair and chewed up some other small stuff, we resorted to crating him indoors during the day. He cried and whined. I don't believe he ever adapted to the crate. Especially since one day the neighbor called me at work concerned about him possibly being injured because he had been crying since the am. For the sake of the neighbors, we stopped crating him. Instead, I took him for a run on my lunch hour. With age he has slowed down a bit and become more of a couch potato...Thank goodness"
If you are considering getting a dog, remember exercise is a must for every breed. Some dogs, like Bonz, will need to run lots and others are happy with a nice brisk walk. Dogs need more than just food and water, they need time, patience, affection and exercise. Having a pet is a serious responsibility so be sure you ready for the commitment it takes to raise a good family friend.
And remember "a tired dog is a good dog"!
